That Friday Feeling...Photos, Wild World and Billy!

Happy Friday everyone! Another week has flown by...and even more frightening is how quickly the month of September skipped on by. Now October is just around the corner I'm definitely getting into hibernation mode (although I think I might be in that mode 365 days of the year!).

Here are a few things I've been loving this week...

Photographs from Cheerz.com...

I'm definitely going through a phase of wanting to print out my photos. I love having them around. I found cheerz through the phone app and love how easy it easy to get hard copies of photos from instagram, facebook and my PC. The little batch in the photo represent a tiny portion of the photos I've had printed recently. My plan is to get some pretty albums from Paperchase and stick the photos in them so I can have a flip through them as each photo is just a little piece of happiness.


Billy on the Street


I'm so late to the game with Billy on the Street but now I've discovered it I'm in absolute love. I knew Billy Eichner from Parks and Recreation, and loved him in that but hadn't seen anything until witnessing him running around the streets of New York playing such gems as 'for a dollar' and 'quizzed in the face'. If you haven't seen Billy on the Street then I definitely recommend watching a few clips on Youtube...but be warned...it can be an exhausting experience!

...and in music this week...

Bastille are still my favourite band at the moment and I've been listening to Wild World, their second album, at every possible opportunity. At first listen I wasn't sure I loved it as much as All This Bad Blood, but that quickly passed. It's a beautiful and carefully crafted piece of music. I should never have expected anything less.

Anyway, I have an exciting weekend with family planned so I'll say bye for now and I hope your weekend is all kinds of lovely.

xx

Craft Kit Review - Kirstie Allsopp Ring Making Kit

 

Because we're trying to sell our house I've packed away most of my craft supplies, which isn't very helpful when I'm itching to do a bit of relaxing crafting. Craft kits are the obvious solution so I've been keeping an eye out for some kits to try that aren't going to break the bank but will keep me amused.

A little trip to Hobbycraft introduced me to the huge range of Kirstie Allsopp kits they have. I'm sometimes a bit hit and miss with Kirstie products, but these kits all looked gorgeous.

I chose the ring making kit because they looked really easy, and so pretty. The kit was £15.00 in store and I have to say that I'm really impressed with how generous the contents are. Here's what it looks like when you open the box...

..and here are the opened contents. Lots of ring blanks, a paper punch, some glass cabochons, glue and lots of paper.

 

The kit contains enough ring blanks to make 15 rings...so it's nice and easy to work out that it's £1 per ring. Considering the kit includes a paper punch I don't think that's bad value at all! The allocation of paper and glue is so generous that there will be some left over as well.

Anyway, enough of the finances! The kit and instructions were so easy to use. I haven't tried this kind of jewellery making before and was so impressed by how quick and easy it was. I started off trying rings with the paper included in the kit, which has a lovely vintage look...

 It didn't take long before I was looking around for other materials to try. I'm not a paper-crafter and so don't have a big stash of paper unfortunately, but did make this one using a punch from the instruction leaflet...

Then I had a little flash of inspiration and dug out some old postage stamps I had in my crafting stash. They're all used but most of them are of animals, so before I knew it I was the proud owner of a bear ring and a bird ring...

I've got a few other stamps lined up to use now and can't wait to see how they turn out! I know it sounds daft but I can't believe how simple the rings are to make. Punch some paper, add some glue, add a glass cabochon with a bit more glue and before you know it your fingers are looking a lot prettier!

I was so impressed with this kit. All good quality and not at all stingy. I'll definitely be checking out more of Kirstie's kits so I have a feeling there will be more reviews to come!

Bye for now!

September is Happy Cat Month!

Did you know that September is Happy Cat Month? We're always on the hunt to keep our kitties entertained and so I thought I'd share some of our favourite cat enrichment items as I'm sure there are some other cat-fanatics out there. Our two kitties (that's Bob in the photo) are indoor cats and so it's really important that we make sure they have a few items around to keep their brains active.

I'll link to the items on Amazon, but I'm not affiliated and I'm sure you can get them in lots of different pet shops!

Click on to read more if you're a crazy cat lady/ guy like us!

Sunday Best - September Sapphire

Sapphire is the birthstone of September, and so as a September baby it's always had a special place in my heart. Here are a few sapphire (and sapphire coloured) items I've found and loved on Etsy this week...

'September Sapphire' by kittycrafted

A little love for the birthstone of September.

Genuine Sapphire on 925 Ster... LynnsGemCreati... $28.7	Vintage Vase - Bohemian Cut ... thekingsmistre... $38.5	September Birthstone Necklac... IrinSkye $20
Felted Acorns, sapphire coba... feltjar $12	Pair of Royal Sapphire Old F... shopsilverando... $25	Jammy Heart Enamel Mug - Sap... nikkimcwilliam... $11.5
100% Organic Cotton Pillow M... Naturissimi $11	Sapphire ring- Blue sapphire... SilverJeweller... $70	September Birthstone - Birth... Sashira $25
Gin Bottle Art Print - Bomba... ThePurpleHamst... $8.5	Sapphire Gem Soap - Gift Set... TailoredSoap $13.99	Vintage Avon Blue Saphire Pl... PlateFlowersPl... $25
Sapphire simple gold pendant... BermanDesigner... $199	Blue Saphire Gemstone Ring -... PleiadesRomanc... $29	Saphire Magic - Splendid Fai... AmandaTuohyArt $35

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Collection Crush - M&S Natural History Collection

Images from Marks and Spencer

Marks and Spencer currently have a natural history theme to their homeware, with plenty of birds, botanicals and bugs. It's just beautiful. Here are four of my favourite items...although I love them all. I think it might be time to add a bit of natural history to my life!

1. Bird Print Mug

2. Menagerie toile bedding set (they have so many items in this print and I love them all...I wonder how much of this print would be considered 'overkill'?)

3. Botanical Cake Tins

4. Botanical print

That Friday Feeling...Patronus, Birthdays and Stars Hollow

Print from LittlePrintShopUK on Etsy

Greetings from my sofa on this most lovely of Friday evenings. We've just returned from an evening walk with the puppy, a chill is in the air and I have a mug of hot chocolate. All is good.

This week has both flown by, and yet also seems to have lasted for ages. I'm not sure how that's possible.

I hope you've all had a good week, and a fun weekend ahead. Here are a few little things that have made me happy this week...

1. It was my birthday! I got some truly beautiful presents and felt very loved. It's been a busy week at work, so proper celebrations start tomorrow.

2. Pottermore - pretty much heaven for any Harry Potter fans - you can now log in and find out what our patronus is. Mine is a dolphin. I always thought I'd be a woodland animal of some kind...or a sloth...so I was quite surprised by that outcome!

 

3. The Gilmore Girls - Until recently I had never seen an episode of The Gilmore Girls, but since it has appeared on Netflix I'm absolutely besotted with this TV show. I love every character. I love the witty and smart writing. I love the little 'La la la's' that form the background music. I'm on my second watch through at the moment and it's my perfect background TV for lots of activities...working, cleaning, sewing...blogging. 

I think it's now time for me to watch an educational documentary..errr..The Gilmore Girls, so bye for now!

Tutorial Tried and Tested - Crochet Face Scrubbies

My skin care regime means that I get through a lot of cotton wool each week and I've been meaning to have a go at crocheting an alternative for ages! My crochet skills are still very much at beginner level but I thought I'd have a go at making some when I found a tutorial over at 'dabbles and babbles'.

I found the pattern (which is completely free) really easy to follow and although I lost my way a few times (I'm still not very skilled at circles and keeping track of where I am...I'm putting it down as a concentration issue!) they all came out pretty much round - which is an actual miracle!

Each one took me about 30 minutes to make - so they've been a perfect mini distraction each evening.

Perhaps most importantly of all - they totally work! I've been using them with my cleanser each night and my skin feels fresher than ever - perfect! I've got a jar to keep them in and a little zip-up bag to put them in to be washed, and so far the system is working perfectly.

So...better for the environment, better for my face and a relaxing little tutorial to try - perfect!

Here are my finished scrubbies, made from a selection of 100% cotton wool I had in my stash...

 

Bye for now! xx

What's New in CrossStitch - Hannah Dale from Bothy Threads

Gorgeous Shih Tzu Print by Hannah Dale

I'm hoping to bring back motif Monday but until that happens, I thought I'd use Mondays to update on what is new in the world of Cross Stitch.

I've loved the art of Hannah Dale for a little while now. I've seen it adoring beautiful mugs and kitchenware in many a National Trust gift shop (should I be ashamed of how much of my life is spent perusing National Trust gift shops?). The print above is definitely on my wish list...partly because it reminds me of my own little scruffy pup.

I was very excited to see that her work was starting to be used for Cross Stitch charts and have managed to get a few from buying cross stitch magazines. However, they are now also featuring in some lovely kits by Bothy Threads and I thought I'd share a few here in case anyone else is as in love with the style as much as me. I think they'd look beautiful framed and hung on the walls of the cottage I'll own one day.

All photos are from sewandso.co.uk who are stocking these gorgeous kits. They're definitely going on my Christmas wishlist!

 Lovely mum and baby ducks design

 

  My current favourite - adorable and slightly startled looking rabbit

 

Perfect for Christmas

I'm hoping the range just grow and grows (and includes some of her gorgeous dog designs like the one at the start of this post...*hint* *hint*

Bye for Now!

Sunday Best - Totally Autumn

Photo and Tea Towel from KitchStudios on Etsy

 

 

 

 

Autumn is definitely in the air. It's my favourite season. In the UK it does come with some rain (what season doesn't?) but it also comes with crisp sunny days with just a little chill in the air. Perfect for long walks and hot drinks. I love this tea towel. I don't think Pumpkin Spice is as popular in the UK as it is in the USA - but the arrival of the Pumpkin Spice Latte has already started symbolising the arrival of Autumn for me.

Inspired by the arrival of pumpkin spice and all things nice...here is my first autumn treasury.

'Totally Autumn' by kittycrafted

A treasury to celebrate the autumnal feeling that is in the air again...

Orange clutch, fall wedding,... ConstanceHandc... $54	My 'I Love Autumn' H... SeasonalMagicS... $4.75	Pumpkin Autumn Decorations H... LittleConkers $18
Autumn Bracelet Fall Bracele... PoppyKittenDes... $16	Acorn Earrings, Tiny Gold St... GwydionsGarden $22	Autumn Leaves Fairy Lights S... AutumnWeddings $8.99
Autumn Woodland Crochet Hear... ALittleGreyMou... $15	Autumn Cuties Planner Paperc... MyUnicornPlann... $10	Needle Felted Deer Ring, Woo... Middlemistmake... $12
Small Fox Autumn / Fall Felt... RosesandBows1 $12	Squirrel Nuts About You Wood... snowdonprints $12	Acorn Necklace, Lucky Charm,... NeatEats $11.99
Felt Fox Toy, Stuffed Fox To... AmuruToys $17.5	Pumpkin Spice Illustration -... SimonsNest $8	Pumpkin Spice Tea Towel - Au... KitchStudios $11

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